Cloudflare Zero Trust vs Fortinet FortiSASE -- SASE & Zero Trust Compared

Cloudflare Zero Trust vs Fortinet FortiSASE

Cloudflare Zero Trust and Fortinet FortiSASE are both sase & zero trust solutions. Cloudflare Zero Trust developer-friendly zero trust platform built on Cloudflare's global Anycast network, while Fortinet FortiSASE converged SASE platform powered by FortiOS with competitive pricing and integrated SD-WAN. The best choice depends on your organization's size, technical requirements, and budget.

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The Verdict

Choose Cloudflare Zero Trust if largest global network (300+ cities) with sub-50ms latency for most users worldwide is your priority and developer-centric organizations and SMBs wanting enterprise-grade zero trust security at accessible pricing with API-first configuration. Choose Fortinet FortiSASE if most competitive pricing makes enterprise SASE accessible to mid-market matters most and mid-market and large enterprises with existing Fortinet infrastructure that want SASE with integrated SD-WAN at competitive pricing.

Used Cloudflare Zero Trust or Fortinet FortiSASE? Share your experience.

Feature-by-Feature Comparison

FeatureFortinet FortiSASECloudflare Zero Trust
PricingCustom pricing / Per-user tiers starting lower than ZscalerFree (up to 50 users) / Pay-as-you-go from $7/user/mo / Enterprise custom
Pricing ModelPer-user annual subscription with tiered bundlesPer-user monthly or annual subscription
Open SourceNoNo
DeploymentCloudCloud
Best ForMid-market and large enterprises with existing Fortinet infrastructure that want SASE with integrated SD-WAN at competitive pricingDeveloper-centric organizations and SMBs wanting enterprise-grade zero trust security at accessible pricing with API-first configuration
Cloudflare Access for zero trust appl...Not availableSupported
Remote Browser IsolationNot availableSupported
Inline CASB and SaaS securityNot availableSupported

When to Choose Each Tool

Choose Fortinet FortiSASE when:

  • +You value most competitive pricing makes enterprise SASE accessible to mid-market
  • +You value consistent FortiOS experience for existing Fortinet customers
  • +You value industry-leading SD-WAN natively integrated into the SASE platform
  • +You want to avoid cASB and DLP capabilities are less mature than Zscaler and Netskope
  • +You want to avoid enterprise support and professional services less established than legacy vendors

Choose Cloudflare Zero Trust when:

  • +You value largest global network (300+ cities) with sub-50ms latency for most users worldwide
  • +You value generous free tier for up to 50 users makes it accessible to small teams
  • +You value developer-friendly with Terraform, API-first design, and infrastructure-as-code workflows
  • +You want to avoid smaller global PoP footprint than Zscaler and Cloudflare
  • +You want to avoid cloud-native capabilities less mature than purpose-built cloud SASE platforms

Pros & Cons Comparison

Fortinet FortiSASE

Pros

  • +Most competitive pricing makes enterprise SASE accessible to mid-market
  • +Consistent FortiOS experience for existing Fortinet customers
  • +Strong SD-WAN natively integrated into the SASE platform
  • +FortiGuard Labs provides massive threat intelligence from global install base
  • +Single management console for SASE and on-prem FortiGate firewalls

Cons

  • Smaller global PoP footprint than Zscaler and Cloudflare
  • Cloud-native capabilities less mature than purpose-built cloud SASE platforms
  • CASB and DLP features are less granular than Netskope or Zscaler
  • Architecture evolved from on-prem appliances rather than built for cloud
  • ZTNA capabilities lag behind Zscaler ZPA in maturity and scale

Cloudflare Zero Trust

Pros

  • +Largest global network (300+ cities) with sub-50ms latency for most users worldwide
  • +Generous free tier for up to 50 users makes it accessible to small teams
  • +Developer-friendly with Terraform, API-first design, and infrastructure-as-code workflows
  • +Aggressive pricing significantly undercuts Zscaler and Netskope
  • +Rapid innovation pace with frequent feature releases

Cons

  • CASB and DLP capabilities are less mature than Zscaler and Netskope
  • Enterprise support and professional services less established than legacy vendors
  • Fewer pre-built integrations with enterprise IT service management tools
  • Advanced reporting and analytics lag behind Zscaler's dashboard capabilities
  • SD-WAN (Magic WAN) is newer and less proven than established competitors

Sources & References

  1. Cloudflare Zero Trust — Official Website & Documentation[Vendor]
  2. Fortinet FortiSASE — Official Website & Documentation[Vendor]
  3. Cloudflare Zero Trust Reviews on G2[User Reviews]
  4. Fortinet FortiSASE Reviews on G2[User Reviews]
  5. Cloudflare Zero Trust Reviews on TrustRadius[User Reviews]
  6. Fortinet FortiSASE Reviews on TrustRadius[User Reviews]
  7. Cloudflare Zero Trust Reviews on PeerSpot[User Reviews]
  8. Fortinet FortiSASE Reviews on PeerSpot[User Reviews]
  9. Gartner Magic Quadrant for Single-Vendor SASE 2024[Analyst Report]
  10. Gartner Magic Quadrant for Security Service Edge 2024[Analyst Report]
  11. Forrester Wave: Zero Trust Network Access, Q3 2023[Analyst Report]
  12. IDC MarketScape: Worldwide SASE 2024[Analyst Report]
  13. CISA Zero Trust Maturity Model[Government Standard]
  14. Gartner Peer Insights: SSE[Peer Reviews]

Cloudflare Zero Trust vs Fortinet FortiSASE FAQ

Common questions about choosing between Cloudflare Zero Trust and Fortinet FortiSASE.

What is the main difference between Cloudflare Zero Trust and Fortinet FortiSASE?

Cloudflare Zero Trust and Fortinet FortiSASE are both sase & zero trust solutions. Cloudflare Zero Trust developer-friendly zero trust platform built on Cloudflare's global Anycast network, while Fortinet FortiSASE converged SASE platform powered by FortiOS with competitive pricing and integrated SD-WAN. The best choice depends on your organization's size, technical requirements, and budget.

Is Fortinet FortiSASE better than Cloudflare Zero Trust?

Choose Cloudflare Zero Trust if largest global network (300+ cities) with sub-50ms latency for most users worldwide is your priority and developer-centric organizations and SMBs wanting enterprise-grade zero trust security at accessible pricing with API-first configuration. Choose Fortinet FortiSASE if most competitive pricing makes enterprise SASE accessible to mid-market matters most and mid-market and large enterprises with existing Fortinet infrastructure that want SASE with integrated SD-WAN at competitive pricing.

How much does Fortinet FortiSASE cost compared to Cloudflare Zero Trust?

Fortinet FortiSASE pricing: Custom pricing / Per-user tiers starting lower than Zscaler. Cloudflare Zero Trust pricing: Free (up to 50 users) / Pay-as-you-go from $7/user/mo / Enterprise custom. Fortinet FortiSASE's pricing model is per-user annual subscription with tiered bundles, while Cloudflare Zero Trust uses per-user monthly or annual subscription pricing.

Can I migrate from Cloudflare Zero Trust to Fortinet FortiSASE?

Yes, you can migrate from Cloudflare Zero Trust to Fortinet FortiSASE. The migration process depends on your specific setup and the features you use. Both platforms offer APIs that can facilitate automated migration. Consider running both tools in parallel during the transition to ensure zero downtime.